[February 2, 2022] Consider your latest completed project, a newly closed deal, or a system change in your company. What challenges did you confront? How did you overcome them? Hurdles. Detours. Explorations.
These are only a few of what a typical leader deals with in their business endeavor. As leaders, you face a multitude of challenges and opportunities.
It is vital to recognize that in leadership, providing solutions should not be the ultimate concern; rather, it is the adaptive challenge while going through the process.
Often, adaptive challenges are difficult to identify as there are no clear-cut boundaries to solving them. To make it more complex, it usually involves addressing people, systems, or practice-related issues which may require changes in values, beliefs, or attitudes.
Below are 5 adaptive techniques to avoid common leadership pitfalls:
1. Identify the adaptive challenge.
Indeed, there is always a solution to every problem. But the challenge begins with identifying the root cause of a problem. It requires an honest and deep evaluation of a company’s systems and considering which practices to remove, which ones to maintain, and what new methods should be adopted based on previous experiences.
Adaptive leaders challenge the present circumstances, ask about taboo matters, and deal with ‘unwanted problems’ head-on.
2. Recognize the political landscape.
It is vital to understand the company culture, structure, norms, and manner of thinking before confronting a challenge. It gives you a glimpse of the decision-makers and their influencers which are crucial aspects in implementing adaptive change.
Leaders may also check out other stakeholders who have power and impact over the challenge they have to deal with like government institutions or partner organizations.
3. Mobilize your team and prepare to intervene.
Systems and practices’ interventions are often the toughest to face since people may resist change for fear of giving up something.
Thus, adaptive leaders must devise an effective intervention based on how people perceive and act on the adaptive change. They should also be open when conflicts arise. But like any other discussion, it should aim to produce something constructive to arrive at workable solutions for the company.
4. Treat yourself as a system.
Adaptive leaders see themselves from within through constant self-reflection. They practice self-regulation by understanding what their thoughts and feelings are and how does it influence their behavior.
Broaden your horizon and discover your tolerances, especially when faced with uncertainty.
5. Take on the adaptive challenge.
Confront the adaptive challenge as you allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Guided by your purpose, ethical, and moral standards, take on the challenge confidently.
As an adaptive leader, inspire your team as you speak with authenticity. Listen to your employees and other people’s opinions. Be more mindful of those who have nothing to say and assess their actions as well.
Implement the adaptive solution as you practice experimenting with the best course of action. Take risks and explore the unknown to search for better solutions.
Adaptive leaders may often cause discomfort to others as they confront complex problems that typical leaders dismiss. Such circumstances entail ‘real work’ to overcome. However, they do not mind initiating and disturbing the balance to motivate their employees to go out of their comfort zone and engage in discoveries hoping to succeed after.
References:
Ng, Joey. (2016, December 11). Adaptive Challenge and The Leadership Challenge. Retrieved from http://www.focusadventure.com/adaptive-challenge-and-the-leadership-challenge/
Yang, Christopher. (2019, October 14). Emerging Triumphantly From Change Through Adaptive Leadership. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/10/14/emerging-triumphantly-from-change-through-adaptive-leadership/?sh=7dfe2928529d
Waking Giants. (2021, June 22). ‘Adaptive Challenge’ is the Future of Great Leadership. Retrieved from https://waking-giants.com/adaptive-challenge-leadership/
Good article, sir! Thank you.
Keep up the writing. Practice, Practice, Practice. That is how we all get better at what we do. Congrats, Mr. Difford.
Excellent, thanks!
Gen. Satterfield is good at allowing other, aspiring authors get a chance to publish….. well done!
First a note. Well done, Grant!! I liked your article, very informative and well thought out. I do, however, think your “3. Mobilize your team and prepare to intervene.” is a bit weak. Consider a rework on it. Yes, “mobilize your team and prepare,” but to “devise an effective intervention based on how people perceive and act on the adaptive change” is, well in my opinion, poorly stated. I gave it to my wife and she said this was a word salad. Maybe she didn’t understand it. I would suggest you reword this to make it clearer what you are getting at. Good luck!
Good job with this article, Mr. Difford. Congratulations on getting it published. 👍
😊😊😊😊 Yes, well done!
Best quote, “Confront the adaptive challenge as you allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Guided by your purpose, ethical, and moral standards, take on the challenge confidently. ” Centuries of philosophers have dealt with this and the continued discussion is good for us.
Grant, good job with this article. Congratulations on getting Gen. Satterfield to accept your article. Cheers!
Yep, well written. Good to read a difference in how others ‘see’ the world. I teach my High School students to look at things from different perspectives, to judge those views based upon time-proven ways, and then make good decisions that are easy to note the results.